Opposable Chums: Guts and Glory at the World Series of Birding

I just watched Opposable Chums: Guts and Glory at the World Series of Birding and it was a heck of a documentary. Some of birding’s brightest stars provide commentary and the filmmaker, Jason Kessler, manages to capture the essence, not just of the World Series of Birding, but of birding more generally, in his 65-minute documentary. Everything from pishing to pooping in the field is covered, and I think even non-birders might be tempted to try to enter the World Series of Birding after watching this film.

Then again, with such compelling subject matter how could Kessler have failed? The documentary revolves around the 2002 WSOB and intersperses interviews with participants and birding celebrities, action from the WSOB itself, and footage of birds. Occasionally non-birders are interviewed, like when a police officer describes birders driving as “pretty erratic” and having a “lack of consideration for other motorists.”

For those who don’t know about it, Opposable Chums provides a nice history of the WSOB, which is rather easy considering the guy who thought it up, famed birder Pete Dunne, is one of the birding celebrities interviewed in the movie. It is held every year in New Jersey, a destination described by an interviewee as “the place people think of as the other end of the tunnel.” But New Jersey is ideal for such a competition, according to those in the movie, because the varied habitat, small size of the state, and its geographical position which causes it to be a migrant funnel.

Since the first WSOB way back in 1983 it has grown as fast as birding has. Now there are multiple divisions in the WSOB: whether a team wants to sit in one spot all day, try to photograph as may species as possible, or limit themselves to a geographical area, there is a division for them. And the documentary features members from several different types of teams, including one so large that two school buses were required to get them from birding site to birding site! Perhaps most amazing was the team that competed on foot, covered almost 50 miles, and saw a ton of birds. Though the interviewees did bring up the stereotypes many people still believe to be true about birders (“old ladies in tennis shoes” being a popular one) I was heartened by the gentleman who declared that while competing in the WSOB “less people give me a hard time and more people want to see what I’m looking at.” Maybe birding has become, gasp, acceptable?

While this movie is short enough (65 minutes) for even non-birders to enjoy there are some aspects from which birders will take particular pleasure. At least twice during an interview the interviewee is distracted by a bird flying by, a tendency of birders that must have driven the filmmakers crazy! Often birds can be heard singing in the background during a scene which, as a birder, is a wonderful challenge. The discussion of how birders become birders brings up a couple tales that sound familiar, probably because every birder’s tale of how they started birding has some elements in common.

For those who have done big days some of the challenges that teams must overcome will seem familiar. Bloodthirsty bugs, the bane of birders, are discussed, as is exhaustion, necessary bodily functions, arguments within teams, and the police. An interesting tidbit that I was unaware of was that the WSOB, for safety reasons, disqualifies any team that gets a speeding ticket during the competition. This provides a strong disincentive to speed and minimizes the likelihood of a birder-cop interaction but, nonetheless, when carloads of people are pulling over in desolate areas in the middle of the night the police might take an interest.

But the biggest challenge facing the teams is finding birds, a challenge that has sadly, in some cases, become more difficult as many species continue to be in decline. That is why using the WSOB as a fund raising tool for conservation causes is so great: not only do participants get to go birding all day but they are also raising money for the conservation cause of their choice, a point that is stressed strongly in the film.

I would highly recommend adding this movie to your DVD library. It is entertaining, informative, and, who knows, if you show it to a non-birding friend they might be convinced to give birding a chance! You can get the movie here.

Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy, their son, Desmond Shearwater, and their indoor cat, B.B. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.

Got the chance to watch the film this weekend. (Actually I watched it twice.) I enjoyed it very much – mostly because many of the scenes are familiar to me. No, I’ve not participated in the World Series of Birding… yet. But, I have participated in Massachusetts Audubon’s Superbowl of Birding as well as several birdathons, and this film captures those days very well. If you have never participated in one, watching this film will certainly help you make up your mind about doing so. BUT, if you are trying to convince a non-birder (or at least a not very intensive birder) to come along – this may not be the best way to do so. It certainly shows the fun side, but it aso shows how long and intensive a day like this can be. (My fiance decided as we were watching it that she was going to pass on doing any World Series, Superbowls or Bridathons)
All said and done, it is a wonderful film that will appeal greatly to birders, as people like to see ourselves reflected in the camera’s lens. Not sure the appeal will hold for non-birders.
I give it three alulas up!

I’m happy to report that the film’s appeal to non-birders has been pretty solid, once I get them to sit still for it. Your fiance is the exception, which, ah, I’m sure is to her credit!

Seriously, though, many thanks for your kind words regarding my film, and many thanks as well to the 10,000 Birds crew, for the review and for the great site. I can’t even picture the amount of work it takes to keep something of this caliber going.

I’m very glad to hear that other non-birders have responded well to it. I should mention that my fiance had no problems with the film – just that it didn’t encourage her to join in the fun. (I think it’s just a bit too frenetic a pace for her!)

BTW, I posted a very similar review on my blog as well – trying to get good word about the film out as much as possible!

I ran “Opposable Chums” for a group of non-birder friends and they all had a terific time. It answered a lot of questions about birders and two asked to join me on my next birding expedition. Its a great film, funny, informative, honest, just one of the best birding films ever